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My name is why : a memoir

Sissay, Lemn, 1968-2019
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At the age of 17, after a childhood in a fostered family followed by six years in care homes, Norman Greenwood was given his birth certificate. He learned that his real name was not Norman. It was Lemn Sissay. He was British and Ethiopian. And he learned that his mother had been pleading for his safe return to her since his birth. This is Lemn's story; a story of neglect and determination, misfortune and hope, cruelty and triumph.Sissay reflects on a childhood in care, self-expression and Britishness, and in doing so explores the institutional care system, race, family and the meaning of home. Written with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation's best-loved poets, this moving, frank and timely memoir is the result of a life spent asking questions, and a celebration of the redemptive power of creativity.

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Brandreth, Gyles Daubeney, 1948-Brown, Martin, 1959-Deary, TerryDillon, HenryFiennes, Ranulph, Sir, 1944-Morton, Andrew, 1953-Norman, Philip, 1943-Palin, MichaelSmith, AlastairWorsley, Lucy
Great Britain. Office for National StatisticsImperial War MuseumMary Rose TrustRoyal Museums GreenwichRoyal National Life-Boat Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (Great Britain)Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsTurner Contemporary (Arts organization : Margate, England)Twentieth Century Society (London, England)Ulverscroft FoundationWellcome Collection
Adventures in time by Dominic SandbrookAncient livesBlack Britain, writing backCanonsDK eyewitnessEmbersExploring the United KingdomHorrible historiesIconic filmmakers seriesPenguin modern classics
Charles III, King of Great Britain, 1948-Churchill, Winston, 1874-1965Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1926-Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1926-2022Harry, Prince, Duke of Sussex, 1984-Henry VIII, King of England, 1491-1547Johnson, BorisPhilip, Prince, consort of Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1921-2021Thomas, Edward, 1878-1917Turing, Alan, 1912-1954
Autobiography: arts & entertainmentAutobiography: generalBiographyBiography & non-fiction proseBiography: generalBiography: historical, political & militaryEuropean historyHistoryMemoirsUnited Kingdom, Great Britain
EnglandFranceGermanyGreat BritainIrelandLondonScotlandSouth AfricaUnited StatesWales
1945-19th century2007-20th century21st centuryElizabeth II, 1952-Elizabeth II, 1952-2022George VI, 1936-1952Henry VIII, 1509-1547Tudors, 1485-1603
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